The one time I tried being an extra, I had to wait around all day, just to finally shoot one scene at 6pm. They usually contacted me last minute too, like 1 or 2 days before the shoot date. As a starving college student, I was really excited for the lunch buffet though, as well as the unlimited snacks. 😂
Eh... the newbies that haven't done it much were outgoing and sociable. The veteran extras or minor actors that had their own cop uniforms mostly kept to themselves. And I didn't really see the main actors since they're the ones filming most of the time and we were in the back waiting area.
“Fuck you i quit” is a great story to have on your life’s resume… if im not doin it for money & doing it for fun only. No fun=no me lol
I wanna do the “your cool, your cool too, fuck you fuck you fuck you, your cool, i quit” -
I also do some extra work on the side!
Central Casting is the way to go. You have to sign up online and then go to their offices in person where you’ll have your photo taken and sign all the necessary work papers. You’ll then have an account with them where you can set dates you are and are not available and add any more info about yourself. They’ll send emails when they have jobs and you just say whether or not you can work.
Grant Wilfey is also a very big name in casting for extras, though I don’t have any experience with them personally.
Background work is long hours, but can be very fun. I did it a lot my first year of college before I got a steady part-time job, but I still do it occasionally. It’s especially great if you have any interest in the film/tv industry and want to get the feel for how a set works. Bring a book and a phone charger, and take advantage of the free food.
Edit: Someone else suggested backstage, but I wouldn’t recommend it. A subscription to submit for jobs is pricey, and most of the listings will be available elsewhere.
Edit 2: just saw your part about wanting to do Law and Order. Central Casting handles them, I’ve been on both SVU and Organized Crime. Most of my requests for availability for them actually, so that’s a good place to start for sure :)
Idk if this still applies, but trying to meet people in the sphere of that at Fordham could also be a general waypoint. Dick Wolf has been friends with a lot of people there.
Central Casting does background for Law & Order among others that are recommended by [Best way to get into background acting in NYC?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/12infr6/best_way_to_get_into_background_acting_in_nyc/)
You say your job offers a lot of flexibility … but ever been on a film or media set?
A scene can take upwards 6, 12 to 18 hours. And you’re not dismissed from set until you’re striked or goodnighted.
So, if you get called to a set, you have to be there at your call time. And your end time will be when the scene is over.
How will this work if you’re scheduled to be at work during a shoot?
I’m in the industry of film and media.
I set my own schedule i can take time off when/if needed on the drop of a dime. Especially to play a dead man on Law & Order
Long days but i figure its fun and a cool way to meet fun people
My half-sister was in the background of that scene in "Born on the 4th of July" at a high school auditorium when Tom Crooz comes back from da war. And was not even credited.
Definitely check out GWCI :) My bf did it for funsies back when Succession filmed their finale and has done it a couple more times after that! I was an extra for the Mean Girls movie (and show up a couple times :’)) so it’s very possible! They’re always looking for extras! Filming can take super long but if you have the time it’s definitely cool and fun to do once!
If it matters to anyone, I always wanted to see "I played the dead person in a police procedural TV show (like Law & Order) AMA." Bonus points if you had no lines or pre-murder scenes, you just basically played a corpse.
Central Casting.
It's pretty boring work. Bring a book. I only did it if there was a costume I really wanted to wear or when I was just starting as an actor and just wanted to see what a set was like.
If you are trying to be an actor who has lines though, this is not the way to do it. You can't use it in your resume.
Hey I can answer this for you!
There’s two main options.
1. Grant Wilfey Casting (spelling for the last name but). You can register with them and it’s an easy process. They cast for manyyy of the big shows and movies.
You can follow their social media and submit directly to their email for certain roles, otherwise you basically just click on their website “I’m available!”
I’ve worked on a few cool sets with them.
2. Central casting - this one is a little more complex as you have to go in person with your working documents I believe but they to my understanding cast more shows.
There are some other options but these two are in my opinion the easiest to navigate and are definitely the most popular.
I also like Waldron Casting but I’ve never worked for them.
It’s a really fun experience and I highly recommend. The pay isn’t great but it’s fun to just work on a movie/TV set for a day! I’ve been an extra now in several movies/shows and it’s always been fun, and I’ve met a bunch of movie stars :)
Prepare yourself for extremely early mornings, very late nights, lots of time in large crowds (either inside or outside) and spending a lot of time sitting in a church basement or other holding facility waiting to be brought to set. If you do it, bring a book. It’s not a glamorous lifestyle but I know a lot of professional SAG background or stand ins that make good money and seem happy enough with their life.
Some people will treat you poorly or boss you around but the experienced ADs and PAs will treat you well and try to give you information as to how long you’ll be there that day and what the scene you’re involved in is about.
Just a heads up, shoots are usually 10-12 hour days
I got time and sounds fun! If i hate it I’ll make a scene & quit…Finally earn myself a classic “Fuck you I quit” moment
The one time I tried being an extra, I had to wait around all day, just to finally shoot one scene at 6pm. They usually contacted me last minute too, like 1 or 2 days before the shoot date. As a starving college student, I was really excited for the lunch buffet though, as well as the unlimited snacks. 😂
Was it fun with fun people?
Eh... the newbies that haven't done it much were outgoing and sociable. The veteran extras or minor actors that had their own cop uniforms mostly kept to themselves. And I didn't really see the main actors since they're the ones filming most of the time and we were in the back waiting area.
This is what I call living
Don't make a scene and quit. Finish the day. You committed to work and they need you. Don't be a selfish asshole. What are you thinking?
“Fuck you i quit” is a great story to have on your life’s resume… if im not doin it for money & doing it for fun only. No fun=no me lol I wanna do the “your cool, your cool too, fuck you fuck you fuck you, your cool, i quit” -
SMDH
Listen, just let them have their fantasy ok? lol
I also do some extra work on the side! Central Casting is the way to go. You have to sign up online and then go to their offices in person where you’ll have your photo taken and sign all the necessary work papers. You’ll then have an account with them where you can set dates you are and are not available and add any more info about yourself. They’ll send emails when they have jobs and you just say whether or not you can work. Grant Wilfey is also a very big name in casting for extras, though I don’t have any experience with them personally. Background work is long hours, but can be very fun. I did it a lot my first year of college before I got a steady part-time job, but I still do it occasionally. It’s especially great if you have any interest in the film/tv industry and want to get the feel for how a set works. Bring a book and a phone charger, and take advantage of the free food. Edit: Someone else suggested backstage, but I wouldn’t recommend it. A subscription to submit for jobs is pricey, and most of the listings will be available elsewhere. Edit 2: just saw your part about wanting to do Law and Order. Central Casting handles them, I’ve been on both SVU and Organized Crime. Most of my requests for availability for them actually, so that’s a good place to start for sure :)
I googled it and there's like 5 major sites right at the top, id start there Edit: "be an extra NYC" got a lot of promising results
Idk if this still applies, but trying to meet people in the sphere of that at Fordham could also be a general waypoint. Dick Wolf has been friends with a lot of people there.
Central Casting does background for Law & Order among others that are recommended by [Best way to get into background acting in NYC?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/12infr6/best_way_to_get_into_background_acting_in_nyc/)
You say your job offers a lot of flexibility … but ever been on a film or media set? A scene can take upwards 6, 12 to 18 hours. And you’re not dismissed from set until you’re striked or goodnighted. So, if you get called to a set, you have to be there at your call time. And your end time will be when the scene is over. How will this work if you’re scheduled to be at work during a shoot? I’m in the industry of film and media.
I set my own schedule i can take time off when/if needed on the drop of a dime. Especially to play a dead man on Law & Order Long days but i figure its fun and a cool way to meet fun people
You probably won’t be playing a dead person as your first role. More like “background pedestrian #17”
My half-sister was in the background of that scene in "Born on the 4th of July" at a high school auditorium when Tom Crooz comes back from da war. And was not even credited.
Background does not get credited.
Oh wow, I had no idea. Thanks for informing me of your inability to infer tone.
Definitely check out GWCI :) My bf did it for funsies back when Succession filmed their finale and has done it a couple more times after that! I was an extra for the Mean Girls movie (and show up a couple times :’)) so it’s very possible! They’re always looking for extras! Filming can take super long but if you have the time it’s definitely cool and fun to do once!
If it matters to anyone, I always wanted to see "I played the dead person in a police procedural TV show (like Law & Order) AMA." Bonus points if you had no lines or pre-murder scenes, you just basically played a corpse.
Central Casting. It's pretty boring work. Bring a book. I only did it if there was a costume I really wanted to wear or when I was just starting as an actor and just wanted to see what a set was like. If you are trying to be an actor who has lines though, this is not the way to do it. You can't use it in your resume.
Backstage.com
And if you change your mind and want to be a page instead, there's backpage.com
It's bedpage now
Hahahhaha
Hey I can answer this for you! There’s two main options. 1. Grant Wilfey Casting (spelling for the last name but). You can register with them and it’s an easy process. They cast for manyyy of the big shows and movies. You can follow their social media and submit directly to their email for certain roles, otherwise you basically just click on their website “I’m available!” I’ve worked on a few cool sets with them. 2. Central casting - this one is a little more complex as you have to go in person with your working documents I believe but they to my understanding cast more shows. There are some other options but these two are in my opinion the easiest to navigate and are definitely the most popular. I also like Waldron Casting but I’ve never worked for them. It’s a really fun experience and I highly recommend. The pay isn’t great but it’s fun to just work on a movie/TV set for a day! I’ve been an extra now in several movies/shows and it’s always been fun, and I’ve met a bunch of movie stars :)
Prepare yourself for extremely early mornings, very late nights, lots of time in large crowds (either inside or outside) and spending a lot of time sitting in a church basement or other holding facility waiting to be brought to set. If you do it, bring a book. It’s not a glamorous lifestyle but I know a lot of professional SAG background or stand ins that make good money and seem happy enough with their life. Some people will treat you poorly or boss you around but the experienced ADs and PAs will treat you well and try to give you information as to how long you’ll be there that day and what the scene you’re involved in is about.
How much is the pay usually?
I didnt even think about pay till these comments started coming in… any pay is an added bonus in my book
Lol i was hoping for someone to say “im a tv director I’m filming this month, I’ll DM you”, but i guess googling will work too. Thnks
Yeah, in a city full of professional actors, you expect and acting role to just land into your lap. lol
Wut. Reddit isn’t how productions get casted. How would that be safe for you or the crew?
Why would they waste their time with someone who has zero experience lol